Vaughan questions Bell's absence

London: Former England captain Michael Vaughan has questioned the team management's decision not to include middle order batsman Ian Bell in the first eleven for the ongoing series against India, and suggested that he should open the innings in the remaining two matches of the lost series.

"Having Trott and Cook in the top three isn't going to work in the modern one-day game. I see Ian Bell opening the batting," Vaughan writes in an article for the Daily Star.

Vaughan says he wants to see changes for the fourth match at Mumbai, and beyond, with Bell swapping the drinks tray for his bat and pads.

Vaughan wants the classy Warwickshire batsman to come back into the side, after losing his place following a case of Delhi-Belly, if only for damage limitation reasons.

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Bell, 29, has perhaps been England's most in-form Test player for the last 12 months and Vaughan cannot believe England are ignoring him in India.

"I'm staggered that Ian Bell doesn't play. They've got that many players it's almost become confusing about who they should pick. Having Trott and Cook in the top three isn't going to work in the modern one-day game. I see Ian Bell opening the batting," said Vaughan.

He added: "Bell is that special kind of player who can make the most of the gaps in the first ten to 15 overs. He's a class act and he's too good to be carrying drinks. He's been a different player in the last 12 months. He's moved on to another level and he's the best England player at the moment. I'd back Ian Bell to score more runs than anyone else at the moment."